Damu Nagar slum kids battle odds after blaze
Several students in the city fought various odds to excel in the examination.

For instance, there was cheer in Kandivli's Damu Nagar slums, which was gutted in a fire earlier this year, as over 20 students of those who appeared for the HSC exams from the area passed it.

“Everyone is celebrating the results as a lot of them had studied without access to their houses and books,“ said Akash Rohimal, who scored 55% in the commerce stream.

Similarly , a resident of Thakkar Bappa Colony in Chembur, Khemchand Chourotiya (in pic), a commerce student from Swami Vivekanand High School and Junior College, has scored a remarkable 81.38%.Chourotiya's father is a cobbler.

“I would mostly complete my work in college rather than bringing it back home because I would have to help my father with work,“ he said. An avid watcher of movies, Chourotiya
is also a good cricketer. “I did not sacrifice playing cricket or watching movies. I made time for both my hobbies in between studying and helping my father,“ he added.

Sayali Jadhav, a student of CK Thakur Junior College in New Panvel, took the HSC examination from an ambulance following a fall and a series of surgeries just 20 days before the ex am. She passed the exam with 57%.

A Koparkhairane res ident, Hrishikesh Hali gouda, who is affected by rickets since birth, had to travel to his HSC examination centre in Vashi in his father's arms. He has excelled the examination with over 73% in the arts stream.

“I am extremely happy with my results. My hard work has paid off,“ said Haligouda. His bones have gone soft due to rickets--a bone disorder that occurs due to deficiency of vitamin D.